San Jose Earthquakes play six of first nine games in 2014 at home

SAN JOSE -- The Earthquakes can't afford to start slowly next year as they play six of their first nine Major League Soccer games at Buck Shaw Stadium, according to the 2014 schedule released Monday.

San Jose needs to take advantage of the early home dates because it ends the season with six of the final nine games on the road. The Quakes, who have lost only twice in two years at Buck Shaw, open the season March 9 against the Colorado Rapids.

Then the team will break for 10 days to compete in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League series against top-seeded Toluca.

The Earthquakes also are off June 8-June 27 as part of a league-wide FIFA break for the World Cup in Brazil. San Jose could have as many as five players in the World Cup.

San Jose's featured games are June 28 at Stanford Stadium against the Los Angeles Galaxy and Aug. 2 against the Seattle Sounders for the opening of Levi's Stadium.

San Jose also plays six of eight at home from June 28 through mid-August.